Al Pacino
Jade Small
Jade Small
December 23, 2022 ·  4 min read

Al Pacino’s health battle throughout his stardom has not been easy

There are many celebrities in the world each famous for something. Singing, dancing, sport, acting, you name it. Of all the fascinating people we humans admire, Al Pacino is definitely in the top three. Despite his less fortunate background, Al managed to lift himself into stardom. Although, his success came at several costs, making his journey a rather difficult one. 

Al Pacino’s background

Al Pacino is a household name and one of the most respected actors in Hollywood. He has been in the entertainment industry for over 50 years and has consistently delivered powerful performances in a variety of roles.

Pacino was born on April 25, 1940, in East Harlem, New York City. His parents were Italian immigrants, and he was raised in the Bronx. Pacino showed an early interest in acting and pursued it as a career while attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. Good grades did not come easily to Al, and he dropped out at 17 years old.

As a young man, Al Pacino strived to be different and worked hard. In an interview with The Guardian, he said, “My grandfather, James Gerardi, taught me about work. He was a plasterer, and work – any kind of work – was the joy of his life. So I grew up wanting to – it’s what I’ve always chased. The joy of work is what keeps me going.” He added: “The conclusion of my teachers was that I needed a dad. I wasn’t an out-of-control teenager, but I was close. My parents divorced when I was two, and my father wasn’t in my life from then. I wanted to be different with my children.”

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Acting career

Al Pacino worked a few odd jobs after he left the Highschool of Performing arts. After a few theater stints, he was accepted into the Actors Studio, where he received valuable training from acting coach Lee Strasberg.

Pacino’s professional acting career began in the late 1960s. He quickly gained recognition for his performances in stage productions such as “Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?” and “The Indian Wants the Bronx.” He made his film debut in 1969 with a small role in the film “Me, Natalie,” but it was his role as Michael Corleone in the 1972 film “The Godfather” that really put him on the map. Pacino’s portrayal of the complex and ruthless mafia leader earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

“It’s hard to explain in today’s world — to explain who I was at that time and the bolt of lightning that it was,” Pacino said. “I felt like, all of a sudden, some veil was lifted, and all eyes were on me. Of course, they were on others in the film. But The Godfather gave me a new identity that was hard for me to cope with.

Al Pacino grapples with fame and the loss of his parents

Al Pacino is a successful actor with a long-lasting career in the industry. However, like many other celebrities, he has also struggled with the demands and challenges of fame. One of the primary difficulties Pacino has faced is the constant scrutiny of the media and paparazzi. As a public figure, his personal life and relationships have often been subject to intense media attention, which can be intrusive and stressful.

In addition, the pressure to maintain a certain image and reputation in the public eye can be overwhelming, especially in an industry that values youth and beauty. He once said in a podcast: “I went through some stuff. I had therapy five days a week for 25 years.”

At 22 years old, al Pacino lost his parents. They both died within the same year which seemed to pull the blanket out from beneath Al. “I was 22, and the two most influential people in my life had gone, so that sent me into a tailspin,” Pacino recalled. “I lost the 70s in a way, but then I gave up drinking in 1977 and decided to focus on the work.”

Mental health struggles

To top it all off, Al Pacino struggled with his mental health, something not uncommon among celebrities. “I probably have been, and I’m glad that I don’t know about it, but now that you mention it maybe I’ll give it some thought and be depressed,” he joked, answering a question about depression. “People go into depression and it’s very sad and it’s terrifying. I’ve had bouts with that, that come close to that, but nothing that deep. I feel spared and I’m lucky.”

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Sources

  1. Al Pacino’s health battle throughout his stardom has not been easy. Newsner. Cassandrateevan. November 29, 2022.
  2. Al Pacino: ‘It’s never been about money. I was often unemployed’ The Guardian. April 25, 2015.